COMMISSIONERS MEETING TURNS HEATED OVER MISSING MDT

  
Kirk Hanath small
County Commissioner Kirk Hanath

A normally routine part of the County Commissioners meeting turned heated this morning.  During the accounts payable report, it was learned that the county is still paying the city for network hosting, even though almost all of the county’s data is now carried on their own network.  The city claims that there are still a few county computers on their network.  County Judge John Brieden says that the charges for the hosting have been reduced to $5000 for the past 3 months and that he will be meeting with the city manager Thursday to see if the hosting can be ended.  One computer the city says is still on their network is a mobile data terminal that has gone missing.  The terminal was removed from a sheriff’s patrol unit and taken to the city with other units to have all the information removed and taken off their network.  When the data terminals were returned to service in the sheriff’s vehicles, the one unit was missing.  At this point, no one at the county or the city can locate or account for the missing data terminal.  County Commissioner Kirk Hanath says he is outraged about this and places the blame on the county’s IT department.

 

A mobile data terminal is essentially a ruggedized laptop computer that is used to access data in a patrol unit or EMS unit.  County officials say that even if the terminal went missing before it was cleared of its data, there is little chance of someone gaining access to the data because it is password protected.  The last time the missing terminal logged onto the network was in April, when it was removed from service.

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19 Comments

  1. The MDT hasn’t been used since April?? I suggest the last person to have it should be held accountable for finding it and it replacing it. I know in Houston if something is lost off of a unit, the person accountable for it pays for it no matter what the cost. So if the IT people lost it, they need to have their pay docked and/or their job taken away. That’s what happens in other places, why not here?

    Too many people not being held accountable because of who they know it seems.

  2. To Concerned Citizen. Did you have a bad experience with Dispatch since you are downing them ???? I have dealt with them on numerous occasions and have NEVER had a bad experience. I applaud them for working the long hours they work and JUST dealing with people in stressful situations. I have been in their office when calls come in and I saw what they deal with on a daily basis. I appreciate you all at Dispatch !!!!!!

  3. Too many people are spouting off about things they don’t know. Most of the people at 911 are the same ones that worked there when the city ran, and they are very knowable

  4. Worried:
    After reading this and hearing it makes me wonder what else is going on to waste the taxpayers money. Politicians need to act from the heart but sounds like most of them don’t have a heart or even care about the citizens. Wonder were they will be when Jesus comes the next time.

  5. Maybe it should be looked into why all of the trained employees who were with dispatch for years, decided to up and quit when the county took over dispatch!! We had some great people there with great leadership and they all jumped ship when the County took over!! Then an outsider was hired and he has no clue as to how to run this department and does not want to listen to the first responders when they make suggestions. Don’t just blame IT, there is lots of blame to go around!!
    And don’t be so Gung Ho for Kirk H, he has become pretty complacent over the years and has cultivated “friendships” that seem to get their way when things are needed. I think we need all fresh faces and opinions!!!

  6. I am glad to see that the Commissioner’s Court is functioning well, and doing it’s job. And thanks Kirk.

  7. Sounds like there needs to be some house cleaning in the IT and Dispatch department! ASAP. Come on people! You tell them Kirk Hanath!!!! Preach!!!!

  8. Maybe you all should know all the facts before you react. It’s so easy to rant when you do not have the entire story.

    1. Sounds like Commissioner Hanath has the facts. FACT is the IT director was not at this meeting “again” FACT is the Judge will be going to the city on Thurs without the IT director “again. FACT is the IT department has cost the county and tax payers THOUSAND of dollars. Thank you Kirk for stepping up and speaking out. Come on Commissioners and Judge take a step back and look at this problem without letting friendships get in the way.

    2. You’ve left the impression that you “have the entire story.” Do tell.

      1. Not by a long shot. Going by the great reporting on KWHI. Thank you KWHI for always reporting the FACTS on commissioner court.

  9. You think this is bad you should look into Washington Co Dispatch. That is a group of incompetent folks that’s works with the County IT folks which is incompetent. Find out why Commissioner Hanath has washed his hands of Dispatch and IT……Because the Court would not hold them accountable when Hanath realized they were incompetent and wanted to replace them.

  10. Am I reading this right? $5000 for three months on a missing computer? Somebody should be held accountable for this gross waste of funds, this is taxpayer money.

  11. I’m wondering what the IT director had to say on this subject? Was he even present for this meeting?

    1. I’m sure he didn’t attend. He’s been able to hide behind the Commissioners Court this long and skirt all kinds of responsibility. The IT department has cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars. Good for Hanath for finally speaking up about what this really is.

  12. Way to go Commissioner Kirk Hanath . you should run for county judge…. wish all the county commissioners had the… well you know!!! to stand up for the citizens….

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